WCP1294

Columbia

Oct^r 10^th 1853

Dear Brother

As you intend leaving England in Nov^r this perhaps may arrive after you have left but (as the Irishman said, if you do not receive it pray let me know). Last week I received a letter from M^r A Townsend¹ stating that he had a parcel for me at Stockton and wished to see me, but as it was impossible for me to leave at this time I wrote to him to send the parcel here to me which he did and received it yesterday 9^th containing 3 letters, 2 newspapers and the beautiful picture^1.5, for which I return Thomas² many thanks, it is much better than a Daguerreotype as it is divested of that unpleasant glare which is so unnaural [sic] — My first impression was that you looked about 50 years old, that my mother³ was your good[?] Lady and Fanny⁴ might be your daughter — but upon a closer examination and longer inspection of it I perceived the truthfulness of the portraits particularly of Fanny which is very perfect and appears not to be at all altered by the cares and anxieties of five years of matrimony. You look rather older than I expected, and my Mother is altered rather more than I expected — but altogether I am much pleased with it — I have no doubt Mory's [sic] Haggar⁵ is a regular Texian [sic] as it is a rough go ahead place with people to match and would therefore suit him. As to California being divided there has been some talk of making two states of it, but I do not think it [2] will ever be carried into effect, should it be I have no doubt but the southern portion would choose slavery but slaves will never be tolerated in the mines as all the minersto a man would be opposed to it and for all abolistionism [sic] is in very bad repute. Slavery would be much worse should the question ever be mooted — But there is no fear of a separation of the Union — with regard to the spiritmanifluf manifestations⁶ as they are called here I have not yet had an opportunity of witnessing exploits any very interesting exploits except the tipping of a Table when about a dozen hands were on it and I did not think much of that, there are however several people here who thoroughly believe in it, and attempts of prospect claims by it. "That is they ask certain questions concerning whether there is much gold to be found on a certain piece of land which they describe and at what depth it is to be found, but I have not yet heard of any rich claims being found by these means — I have been engaged lately in making a map of our⁷ Canal with the various mining camps in the vicinity from ^an accurate survey over about 20 miles of ground, it was for the purpose of Illustrating our works at a convention of water Companies held at Sacramento last week. I only had about three weeks to do the survey and map, so was rather pressed for time as there was no one here to assist me. I however got it finished in time not exactly to my own satisfaction as I am sadly ⁱⁿ I want of drawing instruments not having even a bow pen or pencil [3] and none are to be got in these parts. It was however very much admired and praised here and was the best that was produced at the convention. I took some pains with the title which set it off considerably —

Our Company is now entirely out of debt and we had a dividend last month of eighty dollars to the share — our water is now very low and the proceeds only pay our expenses which are pretty high just now as we are doing a great deal of repairing ^work to our flumes &c we shall not have another dividend till January when we expect one every month if no bad accidents occur — At There are now 275 shares of which I have two — At the election of Officers for the company held in Sep^t there was a great deal of spirit manifest[ation] as our former Superintendent General Bernard⁸ had agreed to take the office if he should be elected, he has a great many friends in the Company. My friends persuaded me to ^be put in nomination for the office or I should otherwise have resigned in his favour at the election however it happened to be a tie vote both of us haveⁱⁿg exactly the same number of votes so the directors had to decide who was to be Superinten[den]^t and they chose me. This election is only 3 months at the next in Dec^r the offices have to be chosen for a year. There is no ill feeling between the general & myself on account of the election we have always been the best of friends and probably always shall will be, at least as far as it rests with me. I am going upon the mountains next week to explore and survey a route for the [4] extension of our canal to the main branch of the river where there is always plenty of water it is rather doubtful whether the works will ever be extended to this branch but the directors wish to have all the information on the subject in case the Company should wish it, so I have to survey the route and make a report and estimate of the probable expenses should the work ever be carried out — Am glad to find work goes on brisk in A-st[?] it is better to have too much than too little of that sort of employment[.] I find that nothing is to be obtained (even in California) without work and in my situation where I have so much to superintend and see to, that I have very little leisure time if any thing goes in the least wrong it is sure to be talked over, and if I am at all in fault there is no chance for escape, so that I am obliged to keep myself wide awake! —

Decr ^Novr 21^st The rainy season is now just commencing and it is the worst and most laborious time I have as I am obliged to be out at all hours and in all sorts of storms as it is by these deluging showers and high winds that most of out accidents happen, and (like the Cap^t[ain] of a ship I am the first one to be there and the last one to leave till the accident is repaired or the obstruction removed). But this is the season that we have all been wishing for [5] for the last three months, as the rainy season is very late and we have had but very little water in our ditches and lands since Sepr. We shall now have abundance probably more than we want and it will continue to last till Sepr. next year 1854 — I cannot exactly make out where Alfred is going^the next voyage — numerous places were named South and East — lastly Africa had started up — I would say certainly not to Africa at all by every account received it is the most sickly of all places to European constitutions, besides the natives are not at all times the most amicable and hospitable natives that we should wish to meet with in a foreign land. To explore the Source of the Niger or to add to ^advance science in any other way is certainly very ^{advisable and} praiseworthy but when it is to be a ^{done at the} sacrifice of the benevolent individuals ^{health or life} I should certainly not wish to be that most distinguished or exalted personage. I am very anxious to see Alfred[']s Book on the Amazon as there is a great deal of talk now of Gold being found there in great abundance[.] I suppose he has seen the account of the voyage up the Amazon (made by the United States vessels) written by Lieut[enant] Murray [Maury]⁹ who commanded the expedition. I think it very probable that the Americans will form a settlement there shortly — and then it [6] will not take long to annex South America, Cape Horn and all^{the Islands} and that ^there it will be the “Glorious Republic”, bounded ["]on the East by the rising sun on the west the setting sun, on the north by the Arctic expedition and south just as far as we please”. That is the answer given in a Geographical class by a youngster who was asked to define the boundaries of the United States — this youngster had certainly an expanding intellect and ought to be looked after. The mail starts tomorrow morning and I have just written a lot of nonsense so you may guess I am still jolly under all difficulties and the privations of civilized sociability & rational conversation which must be my excuse for what I have written — what can you expect from a[one word illeg.] man who associates only with men and some ^{of them} of the roughest class — all things must have an end — and I may ^yet look forward yet to meeting those that are found to me by the ^closest ties of home affection[.]

I remain your affectionate | son J Wallace [signature]

Dec^r 4^th 1853